National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director lawyer Magtanggol Gatdula admits the bureau is not at par with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the US and top law enforcement agencies in other countries due to lack of resources.

Gatdula, however, said the NBI officials, agents and investigators can still equal the best law enforcers in the world if equipped with more training and resources.

He said he is pushing for more training for NBI officials, agents and investigators abroad and in the Philippines.

The Philippines sent 17–man delegation to FBI-sponsored training in Malaysia from July 18 -23, 2010. The Philippine delegation was composed of officials from the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The NBI director said there is always room for improvement for the bureau.

“We sent delegation to FBI training in Malaysia for training. We are pushing for programs that would provide training for NBI members both here in the Philippines and abroad,” he said.

“I said to them. Give us (NBI) resources then we will give good results. We will face responsibility and accountability of what we have done,” he said.

The NBI director said he is pushing to amend or revise the bureau’s charter to expand its capabilities in extending legal and technical aids to the public.

Gatdula said he would also propose fixed terms for NBI director and other officials.

“There is need to improve the bureau charter like there should be fixed term for the NBI director and other officials and to improve their salaries and allowances. We also need to review the needs of the organization,” he said.

At present, the NBI operates under Republic Act 157, “An Act Creating a Bureau of Investigation, providing funds therefore, and for other purposes.”

It is under the supervision of the Department of Justice (DoJ).

The NBI is tasked to undertake investigations of crimes and other offenses against the laws of the Philippines, upon its own initiative and as public interest may require; to render assistance, whenever properly requested in the investigation or detection of crimes and other offenses; to act as a national clearing house of criminal and other informations for the benefit and use of all prosecuting and law-enforcement entities of the Philippines, identification records of all persons without criminal convictions, records of identifying marks, characteristics, and ownership or possession of all firearms and test bullets.

The NBI is tasked to give technical aid to all prosecuting and law-enforcement officers and entities of the Government as well as the courts that may request its services; to extend its services, whenever properly requested in the investigation of cases of administrative or civil nature in which the Government is interested; to undertake the instruction and training of a representative number of city and municipal peace officers at the request of their respective superiors along effective methods of crime investigation and detection in order to insure greater efficiency in the discharge of their duties.